In surprise move, the Uttar Pradesh government has removed Advocate General Vinay Chandra Mishra following a decision by the Cabinet. The notification for relieving Mishra was issued Tuesday (Eid holiday), a day after the state Cabinet cleared the proposal on July 28 and got the sanction of Governor Ram Naik.

The notification said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has been authorised for selecting a new Advocate General.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Indian Express, Mishra who was caught off guard by his removal, alleged conspiracy against him and said he would meet Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to clarify things.

“Some people have conspired against me and have misguided Netaji (Mulayam). I have served as chairman of Bar Council of India for six years and as president of Bar Council of Allahabad High Court for seven terms,” Mishra told The Indian Express.

“What has hurt me most is the way they have dismissed a senior person like me. If there were some complaints, they could have asked me. I would have gracefully resigned if they had asked me to do so,” he added.

Mishra, who hails from Etawah, the home district of Mulayam, is known for his proximity to the ruling party and its chief.

He was appointed the Advocate General after S P Gupta resigned from the post in November 2013, citing personal reasons.

A controversy erupted soon after his appointment as there were allegations that he was once found guilty of contempt of court. However, Mishra had later clarified that the contempt was overruled.

Sources in the government said there were several complaints against him, including alleged irregularities in appointments at various levels in the judiciary.

Asked about these complaints, Mishra said, “Since 2004, there have not been any appointments. The number of courts are increasing thus the number of pending files was also increasing. I have done the appointments as per law and no one can challenge them because proper procedure has been followed. The real reason for such dismissal is unknown to me as well.”